32. IBN AL-BANNA’ AL-MARRAKUSHI

(December 29, 1256 – July 31, 1321)

Ibn al-Banna’ al-Marrakushi was a percipient and prolific polymath whose flairs spanned numerous fields. His math works encompassed algebra, arithmetic, geometry, and other pure and applied branches which existed during his lifetime. Contemporary scholars were awed by his effortless calculating ability. This adroitness saw him become the first authority since Abubakr al-Karaji to completely discern Algebraic Notations and Binomial Coefficients. Likewise, his proficiency in Continued Fractions enabled him make mincemeat of Root Extractions, Exponentiations and Sum of Squares. These were math pinnacles then. As eminent professor at al-Qarawiyyin Fez (the world’s oldest university), al-Marrakushi enriched the campus library with his monographs, translated Euclid’s Elements into Arabic, mentored many students, exerted unprecedented influences and attained great fame. Having lent his genius to mathematics, engineering, astronomy and meteorology, he delved deeply into philosophy, logic, literature, commerce and arbitration. The community-at-large venerated him: prompting the Marrakesh administration to solicit his services in both scientific and communal issues. Future great scholars (such as Shihab al-Din ibn al-Majdi and Abu al-Hasan ibn Ali al-Qalasadi) gained prominence by elaborating on his works. Even after 600 years, successive researchers continued studying him. Although most of his treatises (including: Talkhis amal al-hisab and Raf’ al-Hijab) were on maths, enough embraced other fields. Unfortunately, most of them perished in the fiery upheavals which plagued the previous millennium. Nevertheless, his exploits were not forgotten. In 1976, the International Astronomical Union commemorated his 720th birth anniversary with Al-Marrakushi lunar crater. Various honors have already been accorded him by his native Morocco.

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